The Pinch

Edit: I have found myself becoming steadily busier, but my brother, who is also a graphic designer, has slowed right down. I'm just curious about other areas of the world, if business has grown, the same, slowed down, has there been budget cuts, etc.

"Without deviation from the norm, progress is not possible."
— Frank Zappa

can't speak too much about design, but i can say that my architecture firm is still doing very well and growing, but i would think the economy would take a little more time to affect our business. plus our ridiculously huge size may insulate a bit.

All summer long, I was busier than ever. (That was fun with a broken right wrist!) Last week and this? Dead. People are going around just shell-shocked.

I've dropped most design clients and am focussing on my project management jobs within web and e-commerce, what downturn?

I'm ok for cash and have a lot of credit available too bizarrely, my bank keeps offering me more credit which seems to fly in the face of everything that is supposedly happening.

I think it'd be good to keep a record of how this crunch is hitting each of us here...

Obviously we don't need details of your last penny and I expect for many of us, as it gets harder and things tighten this thread could be a good tool for us guys, especially the freelancers.

In the few days since my previous post two banks in the UK have gone under (neither of them mine thankfully), I'm still employed but 4 months in to a 9 month contract revelations are being made to me about the state of the company and department. There will be cuts, thankfully, I'm in on of the "proven winners" group that is being pushed forward but there is still uncertainty.

I say lets keep this thread going, trade tips, share advice and generally help each other out.

I work for a major corporation... so far so good. My husband (also a designer) has an insanely stable employer (more so than mine)... so, we are okay so far.

Strange days indeed. A small agency, whose principal swore that he never again would be part of a large agency, just today publicized his company's amalgamation with a HUGE one. He must love the taste of words; either that or he's getting cold feet in an unpredictable market.

Forecasters here are predicting that the North American economy will not rebound until 2010. Hopefully most out there can weather this financial storm... Get your Wellies on!

"Without deviation from the norm, progress is not possible."
— Frank Zappa

. . . this year in the US or UK?

Anyone have an update on how the economy is doing for designers? Should I explore making a move now?

thanks

Feeling it now. I am down one third from last year's numbers and with the takeover of one of my major clients the rest of the year isn't looking too promising.

Oh vell...tighten belt, drink russians, answer RFPs.

Cheers.
3dog